Pak seeks global help in nuke energy plan

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A top Pakistani official said on Tuesday that his country was actively searching for international partners to help develop its nuclear energy programme, including offering them joint ownership and joint management in nuclear reactors.

Ishfaq Ahmed, deputy chairman of Pakistan's Planning Commission, said at the International Conference on Access to Civil Nuclear Technology in Paris, that his country looks up to France, among other countries, to help modernise its nuclear programme on a "non-discriminatory basis".

Pakistan has been smarting ever since India signed a historic civil nuclear agreement with the US. It has demanded equal opportunities to build its nuclear energy programme, something the US has been wary of giving as Pakistan--which has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty so far--has been using its nuclear facilities to build weapons as well as to proliferate nuclear technology for similar purposes.

India was subsequently granted the right to trade in nuclear raw material by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, thus allowing MNCs to invest in the country as inputs were no longer an issue.

The US hesitance at working on the Pakistani nuclear energy programme means that Islamabad can talk to France for cooperation.

A senior Pakistani official said his delegation will use its time in Paris to speak to Areva, the 13-billion Euro French energy major, to work out the modalities of the cooperation.

"However, let me clarify that the talks will be limited to safety equipment and not nuclear reactors," the official said. He was speaking to the media on the condition of anonymity.

Ahmed, meanwhile, said: "The Pakistan government would also be willing to discuss appropriate mechanisms for funding nuclear power plants, including joint ownership and joint management, to ensure returns from capital investment." He said civil nuclear energy accounts for just three per cent of Pakistan's overall energy mix, something that Islamabad wants to raise to eight per cent by 2030.

This means that by then Pakistan would have generated 8,800 MW of electricity by nuclear means.

He added, "We are a waterscarce and energy-deficient nation... While Pakistan possesses expertise and experience, the achievement of this target, nevertheless, necessitates international cooperation and assistance."

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